Characteristics of the obesogenic environment around schools are associated with body fat and low-grade inflammation in Brazilian children

• Main Authors: Mariana De Santis Filgueiras (Author), Milene Cristine Pessoa (Author), Josefina Bressan (Author), Aline Siqueira Fogal Vegi (Author), Ariene Silva do Carmo (Author), Fernanda Martins de Albuquerque (Author), Danielle Soares Gardone (Author), Juliana Farias de Novaes (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Cambridge University Press, 2023-11-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Abstract Objective: To assess the association of obesogenic environmental characteristics around schools with body adiposity and adipokine concentrations in Brazilian children. Design: Cross-sectional study. Body adiposity was assessed using the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Concentrations of leptin, adiponectin, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and chemerin were measured. Predominantly ultra-processed food (UPF) stores, public physical activity (PA) facilities, green spaces, walkability, traffic accidents and crime were evaluated. The neighbourhood unit was the 400 m (0·25 miles) road network buffer around schools. The association of environmental characteristics with body adiposity and adipokine concentrations was assessed by linear regression models using generalised estimating equations. Setting: Urban schools (n 24), Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Participants: Children aged 8 and 9 years (n 378). Results: A higher density of predominantly UPF stores and a lower percentage of green space were associated with higher total (β: 0·12; 95 % CI 0·06, 0·18 and β: -0·10; 95 % CI -0·16, -0·04, respectively) and android body fat (β: 0·28; 95 % CI 0·13, 0·43 and β: -0·18; 95 % CI -0·32, -0·04, respectively). In addition, the densities of PA facilities and crime were inversely associated with leptin concentrations. Traffic accidents density and percentage of green spaces around schools had, respectively, a positive and an inverse association with concentrations of adiponectin and RBP4. Conclusions: Obesogenic environmental characteristics around schools were associated with total and android body fat, as well as with pro-inflammatory adipokine concentrations in Brazilian children from a medium-sized city.

Item Description

10.1017/S1368980023001696
1368-9800
1475-2727